Maria Makrides is the Deputy Director at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and the Theme Leader for SAHMRI Women and Kids in Adelaide, Australia.
She has over 300 peer reviewed publications, geared towards improving the nutrition and health of mothers and their babies through conducting and translating high-quality research. Her work has contributed to international policy, advocating for safe composition of infant foods, national and international guidance on diet and supplementation during pregnancy, and infant feeding guidelines to minimize the risk of childhood allergies.
In 2018, she received the Alexander Leaf Distinguished Scientist Award for Lifetime Achievemen, and in 2022 she was named South Australian Scientist of the Year.
Maria is currently President of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids.
